At Trader Joe's, the canned goods, frozen foods and cheeses are top-notch, as is the wine selection (must try the Bear's Lair chardonnay). In terms of product, only the produce disappoints (over-ripe bananas, bruised apples, limited selection of veggies). Still, it's the kind of grocery store that can make a mac-n-cheese bachelor look like a gourmet chef without breaking the bank. But TJ's does its customers no favors with the awkward layout of the registers. Lines that form immediately cut of traffic to the exits and run into the aisles. The parking lot is, without fail, a complete zoo as well. The staff is always friendly and helpful, however. (If the store seems to be out of your favorite item, just ask about it--they'll usually order it or save a selection for you from the next scheduled shipment.) All in all, it's worth the hassle.
Pros: Great service, Unique foods
Cons: Parking, Checkout lines
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